The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #112475 Message #2381252
Posted By: SharonA
04-Jul-08 - 06:14 PM
Thread Name: How do I teach someone to sing harmony?
Subject: RE: How do I teach someone to sing harmony?
I knew I'd come to the right place with this problem. Thank goodness -- and Max and all the Mudelves -- for Mudcat!! And thanks to all of you who've posted such helpful advice thus far.
Not only can My Harmony-Challenged Friend (let's call him MHCF for short) hear, he can sing, play swing and jazz chords on guitar, and set his dobro on fire with his flying fingers. He can listen to one of our original songs that he's never heard before and instantly start improvising on either instrument, making the song sound infinitely better. This is why I find it so odd (and so frustrating) that he can't do the same with his voice. I guess that, as WyoWoman says, it's a learned skill, and this guy just never learned to "play" harmonies "on" his voice.
Jess A's idea of having MHCF sing a drone note is something we have tried already with some success. In fact, he asks us to just give him one note to stay on. Sounds a bit like singing along with a robot, though! Anyway, thanks for the tip about googling "Ear Training" (I'd tried the keyword "Harmony" with no success!). MHCF has dial-up internet service, but he may be able to navigate some of the simpler training sites. I'll pass 'em on!
Roger, our bass singer loaned MHCF his set of CD's on harmony singing. I'll ask whether that was the same course as the one you recommend.
I love Helen's idea of recording MHCF's part (solo), and JeffB's idea of using recordings alternating between MHCF's part and all the parts together. How would we make MHCF's part slightly louder on the all-the-parts recording? Is there a way to engineer it, or do we just have a fourth person sing MHCF's part louder for the recording?
Harmonizin' exercises as an integral part of every group rehearsal -- sounds like a great idea, not just for MHCF's benefit but for our bass singer's too. I don't know if MHCF is ready for rounds yet, but it's a good goal for him... hmmm, maybe I should write a song with a round in it, for us to perform!
Richard, I got a much-needed good laugh out of your "Old Maui" advice! Thanks. Seriously though, chanties might appeal to MHCF more than rounds; I'll ask him. Want to keep him interested in the learning process, after all!
Okay, gotta encourage him, boost his self-confidence, patience, patience, patience... got it.
Again, many thanks to everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. Please keep 'em coming!
Sharon